A vicious yob who battered his defenceless dog in the street was yesterday caged for six months.

Sam Andrews, 26, admitted starving and beating Staffordshire bull terrier Scooby, as well as holding a lighter to the terrified animal’s face.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard his attack on Scooby was caught on CCTV, with footage showing him dragging his pet backwards by the neck and whipping it with a chain.

As well as being jailed, Andrews has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Experts at the Scottish SPCA told Sheriff David Pender how Scooby cowered and appeared “particularly subservient” to Andrews, of Waulkmill Avenue, Barrhead.

Depute fiscal Alastair Mitchell described how the damning spy footage showed Andrews twice sparking a cigarette lighter and holding it close to the dog’s face, as it struggled to get away from the heat.

Defence lawyer Michael Keown said Andrews had “no reasonable explanation or excuse” for his behaviour in Glasgow Road, Barrhead, in August, 2013.